They made a perfunctory attempt to restore the status quo -righting the furniture that was not too crippled to stand, and clearing up the broken glass.

"So there you have it," said Slartibartfast, making a feeble and perfunctory attempt to clear away some of the appalling mess of his study.

Despite perfunctory attempts by the city to tighten regulations, few substantive changes actually appear on the books.

Thirteen British soldiers were present, but they stood by, only putting in a perfunctory attempt at intervention in the last moments of the massacre.

Meanwhile, Maestri made only perfunctory attempts at campaigning.

Although he makes perfunctory attempts to engage with them, he usually falls back to relying on the power of his money or intellect.

So Wood, on first obtaining the Sword of Wisdom, made only a perfunctory attempt to locate Mark.

Such perfunctory attempts at stealth would be a mistake, if this was the place he hoped it was.

She made a perfunctory attempt at getting out of the car.

Rebus made a perfunctory attempt at loosening the knots.